"Okay."
She could hear the sadness in Norah's voice, and it made things worse.
"Norah, I'm going to stay on the top of it, I promise. I'm actually on my way to the office. I'll see if we can conduct some sort of investigation at the Dynasty. Go look around, ya know?"
"Yes! Please. Well, you call me if you need me. I'll be around."
"Sure thing." Hannah faintly smiled.
She disconnected the phone and laid her back on the chair. She found herself sitting in the same spot for nearly thirty minutes and realized she had to be at the office by 7 a.m. Hanna pulled off from her home and dreaded going to work but she had to. She knew today would be a rough day, but she wasgonna get through it in hopes she had something for Norah. Just something.
***
Walking into the office, Hannah did her usual: made a cup of coffee and stuck her head inside one of her colleagues' office. When she knocked twice and was told to enter, they both looked at one another with a weary look. Without asking what was wrong, Hannah took a seat in one of the wooden chairs and just looked at him, waiting for the tea.
"Surprise drug test." Omar shook his head.
"Why you so down about it? Yo’ ass been smoking?"
"Yeah, well, shit, weed is legal. I smoked at a friend's party over the weekend. The shit stays in your system for thirty days."
"Got dammit, Omar," Hannah replied until she realized just last night she was slipped Ecstasy. "Is there a list?" Hannah asked nervously.
Omar picked it up from his desk and handed it to her. She began reading the names, and when she readHannah Sharief,her heart sank.
"Damn, my name is on here." She looked from the form back to Omar.
"What do you have to worry about? Yo’ ass barely drink. Miss Taylor Port wine . . ."
Omar began rambling while Hannah drifted off into another world. She couldn't admit to the ecstasy because then she would have to tell the entire story.
"I have to go to my office." Hannah stood from her seat and headed up the hall.
Just as she crossed the threshold to her Captains office, it was just her luck his door was opened and he called her name.
"Mrs. Sharief. Can I get a word with you?"
Hannah stopped in her tracks, bit into her lip, then turned on her heels into the Captain's office.
"Sir."
"You look exhausted. Do you need the day off?" he asked, and Hannah's eyes suddenly shot open.
"I mean, if I could. Today is . . ."
"Definitely. I just need the urine sample from you and you're free to go."
Damn. there's my chances of skipping the test.
"Sure. I'll swing by. Thanks."
"You go get some rest. I'll put Sanchez and Omar on a case I just received.”
"Okay," Hannah replied then quickly stepped out.
Instead of going into her office, she headed for the lab where she had to give the urine sample. It was just her luck she was picked because Ecstasy only lasted in your system three days. Not to mention, the results came back in a month, but when they did, how was she gonna explain this to Angelo? As far as work, she could get off with a suspension, but again how the hell would she face her husband with a dirty test for drugs?
When Hannah reached the lab, she looked inside to see who worked the shift. The entire way she thought of ways she could falsify the test by swapping urine or using someone else's urine. It was just another lucky day when she laid eyes on Juan. Juan was the strict male who collected the samples. She knew now there was no way she could pull the wool over his eyes.
